I just received an email from Eric Daigh who informed me of a remarkable organization of which I was unaware - Circle of Blue. Eric works for the non-profit, which is based in Traverse City, Michigan, and is affiliated with the Pacific Institute.
Here is what director and co-founder J. Carl Ganter said about CoB in this interview with Brooke Gladstone on NPR's On The Media:
"Putting a face on the global water crisis remains one of our greatest challenges. We hope to create iconic images and compelling narratives that do far more to raise awareness than naming droughts ever could."
Pretty ambitious, huh? Judge for yourself - peruse the CoB WWW site, and these pieces on Inner Mongolia, Reign of Sand, which Eric recommended, and Divining Destiny, CoB's pilot project.
Here's what Ganter says on the Circle of Blue WWW site (dated 15 November 2007) :
The world water crisis is no longer a world away, even for Americans.
Consider the drought in Atlanta, fires in San Diego, the escalation of shortages in the Southeast and the rising temperatures and falling levels of Lake Superior in the Midwest. "The Future is Drying Up," warns the cover story of a recent New York Times Sunday Magazine. "Tapped Out," declares a feature last week on National Public Radio's "On the Media."
We are stepping up to the story of the century in the U.S. and abroad. Water is a central issue, and it binds interests and forces powerful enough to move policy at the highest levels. What made Congress unite for its first successful override of a veto by President George Bush? Water projects.
And on Tuesday, the Associated Press reported "that at least 36 states will face water shortages within five years because of rising temperatures and evaporation rates, lack of rain, urban sprawl, waste and overuse."
Leaders are poised to act, and solutions to the crisis exist. What's needed is the will, achieved by moving water into the mainstream civic dialog.
It's our job as journalists and scientists -- and all of us together -- to ensure that global citizens and policy makers have the information needed to make the important decisions that will shape water's future. We're working hard to move our coverage forward as quickly as possible, and we're honored by team we've assembled. Stay tuned for fresh reports and important news over the next few weeks.
Circle of Blue uses journalism, scientific research, and conversations from around the world to bring the story of the global freshwater crisis to life. Here you’ll find new water reports, news headlines, and hear from leading scientists. We also share what Circle of Blue is doing to expand the global audience for water, like putting messages on the Reuters board in Times Square.
With your help, Circle of Blue will be on the front lines, reporting on the challenges and solutions through the lives of people whose stories make the problems and possibilities real.
- J. Carl Ganter
director & co-founder
I'm convinced!
"How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world." -- Anne Frank
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